Tee-setting device

ABSTRACT

A device which positions a golf tee to a predetermined height above the ground. The cup of a standard golf tee fits into a circular recess within the head of the device while the shaft of the tee is held against a groove along the body of the device. The device is a rigid, unitary piece with the vertical distance from the circular recess to the bottom of the body equal to the desired height of the tee above the ground. With the tee held in place within the device, a length of the tee&#39;s shaft extends past the bottom of the tee-setting device. The golfer applies pressure to the top of the tee-setting device to push the point of the tee into the ground until the bottom of the tee-setting device meets the ground. Upon removal of the tee-setting device, the tee remains positioned at exactly the desired height.

PRIORITY

This is a divisional of Ser. No. 12/291,824 filed Nov. 13, 2008, which was a divisional of Ser. No. 11/307,373 filed Feb. 3, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to devices which position a golf tee to a predetermined height above the ground, and, more particularly, to simple mechanical devices which quickly and accurately position a golf tee to a predetermined height.

2. The Prior Art

Positioning of the tee plays a crucial role in the game of golf. Small variations in tee height can dramatically affect a player's shot. Golfers typically insert the tee into the ground with their fingers and make their best guess as to the proper height, a method which is both inaccurate and irreproducible and, at best, results in only an approximation of the proper height. Complicating matters further, many golfers prefer different height settings for different clubs. In addition, hard-packed dirt may make insertion of the tee difficult. A need has been recognized for a device which accurately and reproducibly sets the tee height. Several tee-setting devices are found in the prior art; however, prior art devices are often complex and consist of multiple moving parts and can be complicated to use. It would be beneficial to have a simple mechanical device which quickly and accurately sets a tee to a predetermined height.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a device which is used to position a golf tee to a predetermined height above the ground. The device comprises a head integraly formed with or attached in a substantially perpendicular manner to a body, with the combination forming a rigid, unitary piece. The head contains a circular recess slightly larger than the cup of a standard golf tee. The body contains a groove against which the shaft of a golf tee is designed to fit. The vertical distance from the circular recess to the bottom of the body is equal to the desired height of the tee above the ground. The cup of a golf tee is placed into the circular recess with the shaft of the tee held against the groove. With the tee so placed, a length of the tee's shaft extends past the bottom of the tee-setting device. The golfer applies pressure to the top of the tee-setting device to push the point of the tee into the ground and pushes until the bottom of the tee-setting device meets the ground. Upon removal of the tee-setting device, the tee remains positioned at exactly the desired height.

In the embodiment of the invention summarized above, the device is a single piece which accurately and reproducibly positions a tee to a fixed height. If a different height is desired, another tee-setting device is used which is set to a different height. A golfer can carry several such devices, each fixed to a discrete height, depending on the needs of the individual golfer.

In another embodiment of the invention, the head contains two circular recesses, one on each side of the body, and the body contains a groove underneath each of the two circular recesses. The circular recesses are preset to two different heights so that the golfer can use a single device to set the tee to two separate predetermined heights.

In another embodiment, the head of the tee-setting device contains a circular recess positioned above a groove on the body as in the first embodiment described. The head also contains a threaded shaft oriented in a manner substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the head. A member is threaded onto the threaded shaft such that rotation of the member causes the vertical displacement of the member, thereby extending or shortening the effective distance from the circular recess to the bottom of the tee-setting device. This feature allows the golfer to quickly and accurately adjust the tee-setting device to any of a range of desired heights. Unlike the previously described embodiments, the golfer is not restricted to one or two discrete heights.

In yet other embodiments, the head of the preferred embodiment or any of the alternative embodiments contains a golf ball recess formed on the top of the tee-setting device with a diameter sized to cooperatively receive a portion of a golf ball. This feature allows a golfer to fit a portion of a golf ball into the golf ball recess and apply pressure to the top of the golf ball, thereby easing insertion of the tee into the ground.

Before explaining the preferred embodiment and alternative embodiments of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device which accurately and reproducibly allows a tee to be set to a predetermined height above the ground.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tee-setting device which is simple to use and is easily portable.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tee-setting device which allows a golfer to quickly and accurately adjust the height to any of a range of desired heights.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tee-setting device which eases insertion of the tee into the ground.

It is an advantage of this invention that the device is inexpensive to manufacture, reusable and durable.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent in view of the present specification, claims and drawings.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the invention.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the present invention in any way.

These together with other objects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the present invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention and alternative embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is bottom elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention showing a tee positioned for placement into the ground and illustrating the dimension of predetermined height.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention which comprises two discrete height settings.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the invention which comprises two discrete height settings and showing the two dimensions of predetermined height.

FIG. 8 is a bottom elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the invention which comprises two discrete height settings.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the invention which allows variable height settings.

FIG. 10 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the invention which illustrating a golf ball recess which may be incorporated into the preferred embodiment or any of the alternative embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While this present invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein, a preferred embodiment, with like parts designated by like reference numerals and with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the claims to the illustrated preferred embodiment.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the head 22 of the tee-setting device 20 is shown to be shaped substantially like a rectangular block with rounded edges. The body 24 of the tee-setting device 20 is substantially block-shaped with one of the faces angled at approximately 30° with respect to the opposite face. The head 22 is attached to the body 24 such that the longitudinal axes of the head 22 and body 24 are substantially perpendicular to one another. The head 22 and body 24 are integrally formed with or attached so as to form a rigid, unitary piece. FIG. 2 gives a further illustration of the spatial relationship between the head 22 and the body 24 in the preferred embodiment. The preferred materials of construction is wood, although it should be readily understood by those skilled in the art that other materials of construction such as metals, polymers or the like will suffice.

The head 22 contains a circular recess 26 formed on its underside with a diameter slightly larger than that of the cup of a standard tee. The body 24 contains a groove 28 along the angled face 25 of the body 24. The groove 28 is positioned under the circular recess 26. FIGS. 3 and 4 further illustrate the positioning of the circular recess 26 and groove 28 with respect to the head 22 and body 24.

The golfer fits the cup of a tee into the circular recess 26 and holds the shaft of the tee against the groove 28. When so positioned, the pointed end of the tee extends past the bottom 32 of the tee-setting device 20 as shown in FIG. 5. With the tee held in place in this manner, the golfer inserts the pointed end of the tee into the ground and applies pressure to the top 33 of the tee-setting device 20 until the bottom 32 meets the ground. Upon removal of the tee-setting device 20, the tee remains in the ground at precisely the desired height.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, the tee-setting device 20 is simple to use and accurately and reproducibly sets the tee to the desired height above the ground. The height setting is fixed and is determined by the vertical distance D, shown in FIG. 5, defined as the distance from where the cup of the tee makes contact with the tee-setting device 20 within the circular recess 26 to the bottom 32 of the tee-setting device 20. The golfer can carry several such devices, each fixed to a different height, as deemed necessary by the golfer. Suitable dimensions for the preferred embodiment are 4 cm×1.5 cm×1.5 cm, body 24 being approximately 1.5 cm deep, 0.5 cm wide at the point of attachment to the head 22, 1.5 cm wide at the bottom, and of sufficient length to generate a distance from the circular recess 26 to the bottom of the body 24 equal to the desired tee height.

Another embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, wherein the tee-setting device 20 has two discrete height settings. In this embodiment, the head 22 of the tee-setting device 20 contains two circular recesses 26 set at two different distances D, D′ from the bottom 32 of the body 24. The body 24 comprises two angled faces 25, each containing a groove 28 positioned under a circular recess 26. The two-height embodiment works in the same manner as the first described embodiment. The golfer selects the desired tee height, places the cup of a tee into the circular recess 26 and holds the shaft of the tee along the groove 28. The pointed end of the tee is inserted into the ground and pressure is applied to the top 33 of the tee-setting device 20 until the bottom 32 meets the ground. Upon removal of the tee-setting device 20, the tee remains in the ground at precisely the desired height. An advantage of this embodiment is that the golfer may use one device to accurately and reproducibly set a tee to either of two discrete heights.

Another embodiment of the tee-setting device 20 is illustrated in FIG. 9. As in the previously described embodiments, the head 22 of the tee-setting device 20 contains a circular recess 26 positioned above a groove 28 in the body 24. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, a threaded shaft 40 is attached to the head 22 in a manner substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body 24. A cylindrical member 42 is threaded onto the threaded shaft 40 such that rotation of the cylindrical member 42 causes the vertical displacement of the cylindrical member 42, thereby extending or shortening the effective distance from the circular recess 26 to the bottom 32 of the tee-setting device 20. This feature allows the golfer to quickly and accurately adjust the tee-setting device 20 to any of a range of desired heights. Unlike the previously described embodiments, the golfer is not restricted to one or two discrete heights.

Yet another embodiment of the tee-setting device 20 is illustrated in FIG. 10. The head 22 of the preferred embodiment or any of the alternative embodiments contains a golf ball recess 34 formed on the top 33 of the tee-setting device 20 with a diameter sized to cooperatively receive a portion of a golf ball.

In operation, the golfer fits a portion of a golf ball into the golf ball recess 34 and holds the shaft of the tee against the groove 28. When so positioned, the pointed end of the tee extends past the bottom 32 of the tee-setting device 20 as shown in FIG. 5. With the tee held in place in this manner, the golfer inserts the pointed end of the tee into the ground and applies pressure to the top of the golf ball until the bottom 32 meets the ground. Upon removal of the tee-setting device 20 and the ball, the tee remains in the ground at precisely the desired height. The ball may then be placed on the tee.

Hence, while the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment and an alternative embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended that the invention be limited to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed.

As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, same should be apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly no further discussion relevant to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention shall be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum proportions for the elements of the invention, and variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered illustrative of only the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact method, construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

1. A device for positioning a golf tee at a predetermined height above the ground, comprising: a head, a body, a threaded shaft and a cylindrical member; said head aligned with respect to said body such that the longitudinal axis of said head and the longitudinal axis of said body are oriented in a substantially perpendicular manner; said threaded shaft attached to said head such that the longitudinal axis of said threaded shaft is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body; a member threaded onto said threaded shaft; said head defining a circular recess; and said body having a face, said face defining a groove along said face generally vertically below said circular recess, wherein rotation of said member causes displacement of said member in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body, thereby allowing the distance from said circular recess to the bottom of said device to be extended or shortened.
 2. The tee-setting device of claim 1, wherein said circular recess has a diameter slightly larger than that of the head of a standard golf tee.
 3. A device for positioning a golf tee at a predetermined height above the ground, comprising: a head, a body, a threaded shaft and a cylindrical member; said head aligned with respect to said body such that the longitudinal axis of said head and the longitudinal axis of said body are oriented in a substantially perpendicular manner; said threaded shaft attached to said head such that the longitudinal axis of said threaded shaft is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body; a member threaded onto said threaded shaft; said head defining a circular recess; said body having a face, said face defining a groove along said face generally vertically below said circular recess, wherein rotation of said member causes displacement of said member in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body, thereby allowing the distance from said circular recess to the bottom of said device to be extended or shortened; and said head defining a golf ball recess formed on said top of said tee-setting device with a diameter sized to cooperatively receive a portion of a golf ball.
 4. The tee-setting device of claim 3, wherein said circular recess has a diameter slightly larger than that of the head of a standard golf tee. 